PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Molotov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jhony Crooket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Molotov
vs
Crooket

195 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Molotov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jhony Crooket!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crooket lunges at Molotov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Molotov's hand.
Crooket shoots in and drives through. Molotov sprawls well.

Crooket closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Molotov is trying to get back to full guard.
Molotov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Crooket's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Crooket's back!
Molotov is hanging on to Crooket's back as he tries to escape.

Crooket is in a bad position with Molotov working for a choke. Crooket manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Molotov keeping moving, preventing Crooket from controlling successfully.
Crooket is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Molotov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Crooket!
Molotov controlling from the full mount.
Crooket is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Molotov unloads with some shots from mount but Crooket bucks and avoids them well.
Crooket in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Molotov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Molotov trying to control but Crooket is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotov controlling from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Crooket can do anything to dispel that myth.
Molotov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Molotov throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Molotov controlling his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Molotov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crooket tries to hold on but Molotov pushes him away.
Molotov tries to control but Crooket wriggling away.
Crooket is trying desperately to improve position.
Crooket looks gassed!
Molotov lands with some strikes.

Molotov is working for a guillotine from mount but Crooket frees his head quite easily.
Crooket is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molotov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Crooket is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Molotov looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crooket takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Molotov 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.

Crooket leaves Molotov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Crooket displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Crooket fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Molotov manages to avoid it.
Molotov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Crooket but Crooket pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Crooket shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Oleg Molotov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crooket closes this distance looking for a takedown but Molotov circles away.
Molotov shoots in for a takedown but Crooket shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleg Molotov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Molotov has a takedown stuffed.
Molotov connects with a leg kick. Crooket looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Crooket is breathing heavily.
Crooket wants to clinch up but Molotov keeps it at a distance.
Molotov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sloppy strikes from Crooket. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crooket closes this distance looking for a takedown but Molotov circles away.
Molotov fails with the takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Molotov. Those never looked like landing.
Molotov misses with a double jab.

Crooket clinches up with Molotov and pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Crooket's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Molotov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Crooket smiles and moves away.
Molotov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Crooket tries to avoid it but Molotov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Crooket to the ground. Crooket escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Molotov connects with an inside leg kick.
Crooket misses with a double jab.
Horrible takedown by Crooket or perhaps it was just good defense by Molotov which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotov tries for a takedown but Crooket sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Crooket slaps away a takedown attempt from Molotov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Molotov swats away the attempt to clinch by Crooket.
Crooket fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Molotov.
Molotov shoots in and drives through. Crooket sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Crooket looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Crooket closes the distance and clinches up with Molotov, looking for a takedown. Crooket pushes Molotov against the cage but Molotov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crooket moves in looking to clinch but Molotov pushes him off.
Molotov shoots in looking for a takedown. Crooket tries to sprawl out of it but Molotov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Crooket manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Crooket tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Molotov swivels and escapes.
Molotov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Molotov tries to clinch there but Crooket circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Crooket. No joy for Molotov on that attempt.

Crooket clinches up with Molotov and pushes him back against the cage.
Crooket manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Molotov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Crooket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molotov wants a takedown.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Crooket tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Molotov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Molotov jumps guard but Crooket stands there with Molotov around his waist. Molotov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Molotov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Molotov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Molotov fails to pull guard.
Molotov is looking to control Crooket's arms but Crooket gets an underhook and turns him. Now Molotov has his back to the cage.
Crooket is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhony Crooket showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Crooket lands with a nice combination. Molotov backs away looking to recover.
Crooket stuffs the takedown.
Molotov thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Crooket if he has to take too many more of those.
Crooket misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Molotov.
Molotov fails to land the takedown.
Crooket slaps away a takedown attempt from Molotov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oleg Molotov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Molotov shoots in for a double leg but Crooket sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crooket fails to land the takedown.
Molotov tries to clinch up but Crooket circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov shoots in but Crooket avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Crooket will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Molotov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Crooket pinned against the cage. Crooket gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Crooket shoots in and drives through. Molotov sprawls well.
Crooket shoots in for a takedown but Molotov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Molotov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Crooket has a takedown stuffed.
Molotov lands a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Crooket moves into range and clinches up with Molotov.
Crooket fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Molotov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Molotov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Crooket jumps guard but Molotov stands there with Crooket around his waist. Crooket gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Molotov wants a takedown.
Molotov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crooket has him pressed against the cage.
Crooket displaying some good clinch control by pressing Molotov up against the cage.
Crooket looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Molotov tries to score a body lock takedown but Crooket shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crooket looking for a takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Crooket - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Molotov is trying to drag Crooket to the mat but Crooket just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Crooket gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Molotov.
Crooket has Molotov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Molotov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Molotov tries to pull guard but Crooket won't allow it.
Crooket stops a takedown attempt from Molotov.
Crooket can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crooket is looking to break free of the clinch but Molotov has double underhooks.
Molotov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Crooket scores with a shoulder strike.
Molotov tries to pull guard but Crooket holds him up against the cage and eventually Molotov drops back down to his feet.
Molotov prevents Crooket from breaking the clinch.
Crooket is trying to break the clinch but Molotov is controlling him.
Molotov is working for takedown but Crooket is calmly controlling the position for now.
Crooket working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Molotov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Crooket decides to pull guard.
Crooket trying to keep a closed guard but Molotov is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jhony Crooket.
I think Crooket 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jhony Crooket!