PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vadim Kharghai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flint Marko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kharghai comes to the cage accompanied by Kunnon Mestaan Vetää feat. Elastinen & Spekti . Vadim Kharghai had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kharghai
vs
Marko

182 cm
29
200 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

181 cm
25
193 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vadim Kharghai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Flint Marko!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kharghai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice shot by Marko.
Kharghai throws a jab but it's blocked by Marko.

Kharghai moves into the clinch.
Kharghai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kharghai pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kharghai tries a body shot but Marko blocks it.
Kharghai holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Kharghai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Kharghai scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Marko actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Marko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kharghai pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharghai is keen to just control but Marko is a slippery customer.
Kharghai is nestled in close to Marko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kharghai is trying to control the action in half guard but Marko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Marko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kharghai stopping the sweep attempt from Marko.
Marko tries to strike from the bottom.
Kharghai wants to control from the top but Marko keeps moving.
Kharghai with a nice head shot there.

Marko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kharghai defends well.
Kharghai trying to control the position from guard on top but Marko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko looking for a sweep. Not yet Marko, not yet.
Kharghai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kharghai engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Marko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kharghai stopping the sweep attempt from Marko.
Kharghai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kharghai landing some decent shots from guard.

Marko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kharghai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kharghai with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marko wants to sweep here but Kharghai controlling him for the moment.
Kharghai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Marko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kharghai is aware though and is defending well.
Kharghai preventing the sweep.
Marko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kharghai trying to control but Marko is working from the bottom.
Marko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kharghai throws a big elbow that misses.

Marko working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kharghai has passed into half guard!
Kharghai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kharghai trying to control the action but Marko is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai throwing shots but Marko is blocking nicely.

Marko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kharghai is thwarting Marko's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kharghai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Marko trying to control from the bottom.
Kharghai is nestled in close to Marko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kharghai lands a nice short elbow.
Kharghai is trying to control the action in half guard but Marko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kharghai is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Marko!
Kharghai dominating with strikes here.
Kharghai trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Kharghai dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kharghai takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kharghai misses with a body shot.
Kharghai connects with a jab.
Kharghai getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Kharghai dives in and scores a takedown into Marko's guard.
Marko keeping moving, preventing Kharghai from controlling successfully.

Marko is looking for a triangle but Kharghai pushes his legs off easily.
Kharghai is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kharghai's guard.

Kharghai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marko is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kharghai is trying to keep Marko in close.
Marko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kharghai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Marko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kharghai is keeping the position for now.
Marko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kharghai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kharghai seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Marko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kharghai wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai controls Marko momentarily but Marko frees himself.
Kharghai controlling the position.
Kharghai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marko.
Kharghai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vadim Kharghai.
Marko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
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!
Marko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kharghai moves out of range as Marko strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Marko 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Marko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai cracks Marko with a good jab.
Marko drops his hands momentarily and Kharghai takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Marko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kharghai's waist but Kharghai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marko off to one side.

Kharghai closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Marko did well to prevent Kharghai getting side control.

Marko looking for submissions off his back.
Kharghai winds up and cracks Marko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kharghai thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marko's head.
Kharghai working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marko is looking to improve his position.
Marko trying to hold on to Kharghai's head to control him but Kharghai postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kharghai connects with a nice short shot to Marko's temple.
Marko works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kharghai stopping the sweep attempt from Marko.
Kharghai is in close to Marko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kharghai with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kharghai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kharghai trying to control but Marko is working from the bottom.

Marko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kharghai wants to control from the top but Marko keeps moving.
Kharghai landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Kharghai dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kharghai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kharghai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marko.
Marko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kharghai slips a straight right by Marko.
Marko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kharghai.
Kharghai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Marko. That did some damage!
Kharghai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kharghai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kharghai loads up on a big right hand but Marko slips the punch.
Kharghai tries to move into range but Marko moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kharghai throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Marko's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharghai tries to clinch there but Marko circles away.

Kharghai feints and as Marko raises his hands in defense, Kharghai changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vadim Kharghai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kharghai throws an elbow that misses. Marko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kharghai's guard. Nice move by Marko!
Marko passes Kharghai's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Marko lands with a punch from half guard.
Kharghai is looking for a sweep. Marko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Marko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kharghai defends it well.
Marko wants to pass the guard but Kharghai is defending well.
Kharghai preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Marko wants to pass the guard but Kharghai is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kharghai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kharghai is pressing down on Marko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kharghai has momentary wrist control but Marko slips an elbow through the middle.
Marko tries to free his leg and advance position but Kharghai is retaining full guard.
Kharghai trying to control the position.
Marko throws an elbow that misses. Kharghai uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Marko's guard. Nice move by Kharghai!
Kharghai tries to free his leg and advance position but Marko is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Marko's head.
Kharghai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marko is looking to sweep but instead, Kharghai has passed into half guard.
Kharghai working over Marko with some ground and pound. Marko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Vadim Kharghai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kharghai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marko knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kharghai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Marko wants to control but Kharghai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Still in half guard, Kharghai seems content to control.
Kharghai scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kharghai is looking to take a break and control but Marko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharghai controlling the action here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Vadim Kharghai just wasn't active enough.
Kharghai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kharghai counters with a shoot takedown. Marko fights it but they end up in guard.
Flint Marko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marko keeping full guard, as Kharghai tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vadim Kharghai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kharghai 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vadim Kharghai!
Vadim Kharghai decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.