PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rikz Monkey (ranked 4440 p4p, 4453 weight class) and Rikz Montreal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Monkey
vs
Montreal

176 cm
18
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rikz Monkey!
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, Rikz Montreal!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monkey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Monkey throws a sloppy head kick and Montreal moves out of range easily.
Monkey keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Monkey moves into range and clinches up with Montreal.
Monkey goes for a takedown attempt but Montreal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Monkey leaves Montreal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Montreal throws a head kick but Monkey moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montreal shoots in for a double leg but Monkey sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rikz Monkey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rikz Montreal.
Montreal moves forwards but Monkey connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Monkey lands with a straight right. Montreal didn't see that one coming.
Monkey is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monkey closes the distance and clinches.
Monkey throws an elbow that misses.
Monkey tries to pull guard but Montreal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The referee calls for Monkey to work.
A short uppercut from Monkey.
Montreal is pressed up against the cage. Monkey has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Montreal down to the mat. Montreal avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Montreal shoots in and drives through. Monkey sprawls well.
As Montreal tries to get set, Monkey tries to push him back and clinch up but Montreal manages to avoid the attempt.
Montreal tries to clinch up but Monkey circles away and keeps his distance.
Monkey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Montreal tries to avoid it but Monkey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Montreal to the ground. Montreal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Montreal decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Monkey is trying to maintain the position but Montreal is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Montreal is trying to work for a kimura but Monkey is defending well.
Monkey wants to get back to his feet.
Monkey is pressing down on Montreal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Montreal trying to control the position from guard on top but Monkey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Monkey bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Montreal's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montreal wants to sweep here but Monkey controlling him for the moment.
Monkey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Montreal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Monkey wants to pass the guard but Montreal is keeping the position.

Monkey drops back looking for a leg! Montreal is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Montreal manages to kick Monkey off! Monkey jumps back into Montreal's guard.
Montreal looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Monkey throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Montreal working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Monkey doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Monkey manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Montreal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Monkey is aware though and is defending well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice cross by Montreal.

Montreal darts in and clinches Monkey up against the cage.
Montreal is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Monkey is keeping busy.

Monkey has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Montreal uses from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Montreal looking to pass the guard.
Monkey keeping moving, preventing Montreal from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rikz Monkey dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Monkey clinches up with Montreal and pushes him back against the cage.
Montreal leaning his opponent against the cage.
Montreal tries to pull guard but Monkey forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Monkey tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Montreal wants to take the fight to the mat but Monkey manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Monkey trying to control the position but instead, Montreal has worked for underhooks and has pushed Monkey into the cage.
Montreal is looking to control Monkey's arms but Monkey gets an underhook and turns him. Now Montreal has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monkey tries to score a body lock takedown but Montreal shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Monkey is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Montreal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monkey stalls.
Montreal tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Monkey just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rikz Monkey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rikz Montreal.

Montreal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Monkey scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rikz Monkey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Monkey throws an elbow but Montreal slips to the side and avoids it well.
Montreal stops Monkey from passing to mount.
Monkey creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Montreal sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Montreal is not content to let Monkey control the position.

Monkey stands up and beckons Montreal to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monkey is trying hard to land a takedown here. Montreal sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Montreal gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Montreal jumps guard but Monkey turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Montreal can't break the clinch.

Montreal pulls guard.
Monkey stopping the sweep attempt from Montreal.
Monkey trying to control but Montreal is working from the bottom.
Monkey throwing strikes from guard but Montreal blocks nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monkey has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Montreal is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montreal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Montreal looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Monkey has picked Montreal up and slammed him! Montreal can't keep hold of the triangle and Monkey manages to pass to side control!
Monkey staying calm.
Monkey misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Montreal keeping his opponent close.
Montreal is not content to let Monkey control the position.
Montreal keeps Monkey under control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Montreal wants to control but Monkey postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rikz Monkey dominated that second round.
That's time! Monkey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Monkey tries to clinch there but Montreal circles away.
Monkey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Montreal dives in and grabs Monkey's left leg, looking for a takedown. Monkey pushes down on Montreal's head and hops out.
Montreal tries to clinch but Monkey is having none of it.
Monkey stuffs the takedown attempt from Montreal. Montreal gets slowly back to his feet.
Monkey fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Monkey looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Montreal is fending him off so far but Monkey persists. Nope, Montreal circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monkey looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Montreal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Monkey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rikz Monkey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rikz Montreal.

Montreal darts in and clinches Monkey up against the cage.
Montreal taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montreal prevents the takedown attempt.

Montreal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rikz Monkey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Monkey forces Montreal back against the cage and clinches.
Monkey leaning his opponent against the cage.
Monkey has had enough of the clinch but Montreal keeps him there for the moment.
Monkey is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Montreal has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Monkey clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Monkey tries to break free.
Monkey is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Montreal can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Montreal working for the choke.

Montreal looking for the choke but no joy.
Montreal wants to control but Monkey is keeping busy.
Monkey trying to get back to his feet but Montreal is in full control for now.

Montreal looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monkey can't escape the position.
Montreal biding his time, looking for the opening.
Monkey can't escape the position.

Montreal is persistently looking for the submission but Monkey is defending it well.
Monkey trying to control the action but Montreal just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Monkey tries to roll but Montreal sticks to his back.
Monkey trying to control the position but Montreal manages to sink in the hooks.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Montreal controlling the positon.
Monkey manages to reverse the position and now he's in Montreal's guard. Nice work there by Monkey.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Montreal looking for subs off his back but Monkey has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rikz Monkey.
Well Monkey has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rikz Monkey!