PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Murad Tsekunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edson Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Tsekunov
vs
Garcia

172 cm
25
143 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
30
142 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Murad Tsekunov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Edson Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tsekunov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Garcia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tsekunov keeps the fight on the outside.
Garcia tries to land a front kick but Tsekunov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Garcia gets a double leg takedown into Tsekunov's guard.

Tsekunov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Garcia defends it easily.
Garcia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tsekunov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tsekunov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Garcia trying to control but Tsekunov is working from the bottom.
Tsekunov trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Tsekunov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Garcia is aware though and is defending well.

Tsekunov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

Tsekunov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Garcia uses it to pass to side control.
Tsekunov is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsekunov is trying to control Garcia's posture but Garcia avoids it.
Tsekunov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia wants to stand up but Tsekunov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Tsekunov is trying to control but can't.
Tsekunov wants to improve his position but Garcia is controlling well.
Tsekunov trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tsekunov is defending against the submission attempts here by Garcia.
Tsekunov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tsekunov tries to get out of the position.
Tsekunov looks like he's trying to stand up.

Tsekunov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tsekunov wants to control but Garcia is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsekunov is trying to stand up here but Garcia is controlling him well.
Garcia thows a huge punch but Tsekunov dodges it nicely.

Tsekunov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tsekunov wants to get back to full guard but Garcia has passed into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tsekunov looks to move to half guard but instead Garcia has passed into mount! Damn!
Tsekunov is squirming around, avoiding Garcia's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murad Tsekunov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Garcia clinches up with Tsekunov and pushes him back against the cage.
Garcia lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Garcia lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Tsekunov has picked Garcia up - he's going for a ride! Tsekunov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Tsekunov throwing shots but Garcia is blocking nicely.
Garcia is looking to improve his position.
Tsekunov trying to control from half guard but Garcia is working away.
Tsekunov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Garcia's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tsekunov is trying to work for a kimura but Garcia is defending well.
Garcia trying to hold on to Tsekunov's head to control him but Tsekunov postures up.
Tsekunov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tsekunov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tsekunov working the head and body with strikes.
Tsekunov thows a huge punch but Garcia dodges it nicely.
Tsekunov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Garcia knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garcia actively working from the bottom here.
Tsekunov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Garcia is looking to improve his position.
Tsekunov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tsekunov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Garcia keeps working.

Garcia looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Tsekunov.
Tsekunov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Garcia is keeping the position for now.
Garcia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsekunov looking to pass the guard.
Garcia looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsekunov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Garcia's head.

Tsekunov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Garcia dives on top into guard.
Tsekunov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Garcia is controlling him.
Murad Tsekunov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Tsekunov keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garcia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tsekunov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murad Tsekunov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tsekunov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Garcia on his heels. He'll look to pass Garcia's guard now, I'm sure.
Tsekunov trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Garcia wants to sweep but no luck.
Tsekunov stands up over Garcia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tsekunov is looking to work some ground and pound but Garcia has wrist control.
Garcia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tsekunov content to stall in guard here.
Tsekunov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Garcia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tsekunov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsekunov with a flurry of punches that miss.

Tsekunov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tsekunov landing some decent shots from guard.
Tsekunov trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Garcia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tsekunov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garcia's head.
Tsekunov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garcia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tsekunov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Garcia has his hands on Tsekunov's head, controlling the position.
Tsekunov wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
Tsekunov landing some decent shots from guard.
Tsekunov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsekunov forces his way into half guard.
Tsekunov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Garcia wants to get back to full guard.
Tsekunov throws a strike but Garcia avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Tsekunov from controlling successfully.
Tsekunov throwing strikes from guard but Garcia blocks nicely.
Tsekunov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsekunov wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
Garcia has momentary wrist control but Tsekunov slips an elbow through the middle.
Garcia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tsekunov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tsekunov lands a couple of digs.
Edson Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tsekunov trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murad Tsekunov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tsekunov pushes down on Garcia's leg and manages to get into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murad Tsekunov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tsekunov, 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murad Tsekunov!