PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cestmir Cejka (ranked 4052 p4p, 6542 weight class) and Usman Magomedsharipov (ranked 478 p4p, 636 weight class). Usman Magomedsharipov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cejka
vs
Magomedsharipov

181 cm
18
176
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
21
178
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cestmir Cejka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Usman Magomedsharipov!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Cejka lands an impressive looking overhand right. Magomedsharipov doesn't seem phased though.
Cejka falls off balance throwing a combination

so Magomedsharipov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Magomedsharipov throws a big right hand that misses.
Cejka being controlled here, momentarily.
Magomedsharipov trying to control but Cejka is working from the bottom.
Magomedsharipov tries to free his leg and advance position but Cejka is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cejka is working an open guard so Magomedsharipov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Magomedsharipov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cestmir Cejka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cejka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cejka connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Magomedsharipov momentarily.
Cejka misses with a wild body shot.
Cejka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cejka digs a good body shot into Magomedsharipov's ribs.
Cejka's corner calls for a 1-2. Cejka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Magomedsharipov fails to land the takedown.
Cejka's corner calls for a 1-2. Cejka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cejka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And Magomedsharipov tries to counter it with a takedown but Cejka pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cejka scores with a nice head shot.
Cejka connects with a nice looking jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cejka lands a glancing blow to the side of Magomedsharipov's head.
Cejka is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
A lazy left from Cejka finds it's target.

Magomedsharipov is rocked!
Cejka misses with a combination

and Magomedsharipov counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cejka is not content to let Magomedsharipov control the position.
Magomedsharipov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cejka is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Magomedsharipov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Magomedsharipov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cejka sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Magomedsharipov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cejka to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cejka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cejka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Magomedsharipov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Magomedsharipov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cejka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cejka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cejka falls off balance throwing a combination

and Magomedsharipov counters with a takedown into side control.

Magomedsharipov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Magomedsharipov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Magomedsharipov misses with the ground and pound.
Magomedsharipov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedsharipov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Magomedsharipov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cejka to his feet.
Cejka scores with a jab. Magomedsharipov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
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!
Cejka with a hook.
Cejka moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cejka scores with the left hand. Magomedsharipov knows he should have avoided that one.
Magomedsharipov is still on wobbly legs! Can Cejka finish him?
Magomedsharipov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Magomedsharipov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Magomedsharipov seems to have recovered his senses.
Cejka misses with a two punch combination.
Cejka stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Magomedsharipov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cejka on his heels. He'll look to pass Cejka's guard now, I'm sure.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cestmir Cejka 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.

Cejka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cejka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Magomedsharipov can do to turn this around?

Cejka gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Magomedsharipov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cejka is looking to stand back up but Magomedsharipov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cejka.
Usman Magomedsharipov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Magomedsharipov thows a huge punch but Cejka dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cejka is defending against the submission attempts here by Magomedsharipov.
Magomedsharipov stops Cejka from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedsharipov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cejka pushes Magomedsharipov off looking to stand but Magomedsharipov dives back in and keeps control.
Magomedsharipov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Magomedsharipov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cejka looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cejka misses with a combination

and Magomedsharipov counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cejka takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Magomedsharipov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Magomedsharipov working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Magomedsharipov controlling the position from side mount.
Cejka wants to get back to his feet.
Magomedsharipov throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Magomedsharipov looking to control but instead Cejka has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedsharipov looks to land a strike but Cejka avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Magomedsharipov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Magomedsharipov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Magomedsharipov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Magomedsharipov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cejka wants to stand and escape but Magomedsharipov is having none of it.
Magomedsharipov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cejka keeping moving, preventing Magomedsharipov from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Magomedsharipov misses with a takedown attempt - Cejka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Decent striking displayed by Cejka there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Cejka.
Cejka moves into range and connects with a jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Cejka as he connects with a hook.
Magomedsharipov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cejka works the jab nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cejka throws an off balance right hand

and Magomedsharipov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cejka!

Magomedsharipov swings around for an armbar but Cejka sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Magomedsharipov's guard.
Cejka won't allow Magomedsharipov to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Magomedsharipov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Magomedsharipov is adopting a defensive guard.
Magomedsharipov wants to improve his position but instead Cejka has moved into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cestmir Cejka dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cejka throws the left hand but Magomedsharipov avoids the punch easily.
Cejka fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cejka throws a poor cross that misses

and Magomedsharipov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cejka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Magomedsharipov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cejka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Magomedsharipov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Magomedsharipov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cejka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cejka has escaped and now he's on top!

Magomedsharipov has a closed guard, preventing Cejka from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedsharipov wants to stand up but Cejka is controlling him.

Magomedsharipov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cejka uses it to pass to side control.
Usman Magomedsharipov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Magomedsharipov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Cejka wants to stand but Magomedsharipov has his arm trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magomedsharipov can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cejka throws a right and a left that Magomedsharipov avoids nicely.
Magomedsharipov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Magomedsharipov fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedsharipov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cestmir Cejka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cejka throws a combination that misses

and Magomedsharipov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cejka wants to get back to his feet.
Magomedsharipov with the ground and pound but Cejka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Magomedsharipov connects with a couple of short punches.
Magomedsharipov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cejka keeping moving, preventing Magomedsharipov from controlling successfully.
Cestmir Cejka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedsharipov won't allow Cejka to get back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cejka keeping moving, preventing Magomedsharipov from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cejka lands a nice hook to Magomedsharipov's body. Magomedsharipov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cejka throws a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Cejka. That snapped Magomedsharipov's head back.
Magomedsharipov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cejka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Magomedsharipov walks into a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cejka misses with a left hand

and Magomedsharipov counters with a single leg into guard. Cejka didn't expect that.
Cejka wants to get back to his feet but Magomedsharipov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cestmir Cejka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cejka, 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cestmir Cejka!