PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Demidko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Alkofer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Demidko
vs
Alkofer

179 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

225 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Legal High's - 158+ Recovery And 159+ Stamina $40

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Ivan Demidko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Alkofer!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Demidko tries to clinch there but Alkofer circles away.

Demidko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Demidko throws a strike but Alkofer avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Demidko won't allow Alkofer to get back to his feet.
Demidko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Demidko postures up in Alkofer's guard and throws a big left but Alkofer blocks it.
Demidko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Demidko throws a big right hand that misses.
Demidko looking to pass the guard.
Demidko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Alkofer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alkofer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Demidko counters by clinching up.

Demidko has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Alkofer is trying to keep an underhook but Demidko manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Demidko thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Alkofer to regain full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Demidko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Demidko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Demidko sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alkofer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demidko throws and elbow that misses. Alkofer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Demidko's guard. Nice move by Alkofer!
Alkofer postures up and lands a big shot to Demidko's brow.
Alkofer is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Alkofer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Demidko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Demidko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alkofer.

Demidko scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Demidko shoots and misses

and Alkofer counters with a single leg into guard. Demidko didn't expect that.
Demidko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Demidko tries to get out of the position.
Demidko is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alkofer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Alkofer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alkofer is working Demidko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Alkofer postures up in Demidko's guard and throws a big left but Demidko blocks it.
Demidko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alkofer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alkofer scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Alkofer distracts Demidko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Alkofer stops Demidko from standing up.
Alkofer scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Demidko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alkofer on the ground.
Alkofer chips away with some ground and pound.
Demidko is trying to control the position but Alkofer postures up.
Alkofer 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.
Alkofer postures up in Demidko's guard and throws a big left but Demidko blocks it.
Alkofer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Alkofer is working Demidko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Alkofer postures up and lands a big shot to Demidko's brow.
Alkofer thows a big elbow that misses.
Demidko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alkofer.
Demidko controlling the position.
Demidko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alkofer connects with a couple of short punches.
Alkofer won't allow Demidko to get back to his feet.
Alkofer stands up over Demidko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Alkofer 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.

Demidko scores with a takedown into Alkofer's guard.
Alkofer wants to get back to his feet but Demidko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Demidko throws and elbow that misses. Alkofer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Demidko's guard. Nice move by Alkofer!
Alkofer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alkofer postures up and lands a big shot to Demidko's brow.
Demidko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Demidko trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alkofer works over Demidko with some ground and pound from guard.
Alkofer thows a big elbow that misses.
Alkofer is looking to work some ground and pound but Demidko has wrist control.
Alkofer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Alkofer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Alkofer chips away with some ground and pound.
Demidko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Demidko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ben Alkofer has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Alkofer postures up and lands a big shot to Demidko's brow.
Demidko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alkofer works over Demidko with some ground and pound from guard.
Alkofer is in close to Demidko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Alkofer prevents Demidko from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alkofer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Alkofer cracks Demidko with a solid left hand.
Alkofer postures up in Demidko's guard and throws a big left but Demidko blocks it.
Alkofer postures up in Demidko's guard and throws a big left but Demidko blocks it.
Alkofer is looking to work some ground and pound but Demidko has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Demidko kicks Alkofer off and gets to his feet.
Demidko fails with the takedown.
Ivan Demidko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Demidko with a poor takedown

and Alkofer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Demidko won't be happy with that.
Alkofer working the head with strikes.
Alkofer working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Alkofer is putting a hurting on Demidko here, landing some big shots from side control.
Demidko takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Alkofer working the head and body with strikes.
Alkofer throws an elbow but Demidko slips to the side and avoids it well.
Alkofer misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Alkofer scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alkofer throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Alkofer landing strikes.
Alkofer misses with the ground and pound.
Alkofer throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alkofer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Demidko counters with a shoot takedown. Alkofer fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alkofer wants to stand but Demidko is controlling the position.
Demidko looking to sit in guard and control but Alkofer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alkofer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Alkofer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Alkofer misses with a takedown

and Demidko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Demidko misses with a head shot. Alkofer uses the momentum to regain guard.
Demidko wants to stand but Alkofer is controlling his posture from full guard.
Alkofer is looking to stand up but Demidko isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demidko throwing strikes but missing.

Alkofer pushes Demidko off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Demidko tries to clinch but Alkofer moves away

and Alkofer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Demidko's guard.
Alkofer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alkofer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Demidko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alkofer.
Alkofer lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alkofer thows a big elbow that misses.
Alkofer stands up over Demidko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Demidko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alkofer won't allow Demidko to get back to his feet.
Alkofer chips away with some ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Demidko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alkofer wants to stand up but Demidko is controlling him.

Alkofer scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Demidko moves in looking to clinch but Alkofer pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alkofer misses with a takedown attempt

so Demidko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Demidko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Demidko throwing strikes from guard but Alkofer blocks nicely.
Alkofer keeping moving, preventing Demidko from controlling successfully.
Demidko postures up in Alkofer's guard and throws a big left but Alkofer blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demidko looking to sit in guard and control but Alkofer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Alkofer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Alkofer working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Demidko's head.
Demidko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alkofer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alkofer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Demidko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alkofer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ivan Demidko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Alkofer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alkofer stands up over Demidko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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 Ivan Demidko.
I think Alkofer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Alkofer!