PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tommaso Marei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olexandr Khomenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Olexandr Khomenko will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Marei
vs
Khomenko

159 cm
25
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 The Island, Tommaso Marei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Olexandr Khomenko!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marei looks to land a combination but Khomenko avoids it well.
Khomenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marei thuds his right hand into Khomenko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Marei misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khomenko.
Marei scores with the left hand. Khomenko knows he should have avoided that one.
Marei lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Khomenko circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice defenses there by Khomenko.
Khomenko lands a nice looking body shot.
Marei looks to land a combination but Khomenko avoids it well.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sloppy strikes from Khomenko. Those never looked like landing.
Marei throws a nice looking combination but Khomenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marei misses with a double jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloppy strikes from Khomenko. Those never looked like landing.
Marei throws a body punch but Khomenko moves out of range.
Khomenko scores with a crisp jab that stopped Marei in his tracks.
Khomenko avoids the body shot from Marei.
Khomenko blocks a jab.
Marei misses with an uppercut.
Marei misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khomenko.
Marei gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Khomenko.
Marei just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Khomenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Khomenko lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khomenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marei avoids the body shot from Khomenko.
Khomenko lands a two punch combo.
Marei throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Khomenko throws a combination. Marei tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Marei thows a body shot but no joy.
Khomenko is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Khomenko throws a one two combo.
Nice straight punches there by Khomenko. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Khomenko.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Marei misses.
Marei fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marei is looking to wear down Khomenko with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Marei throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marei is breathing heavily.

Khomenko moves into range and clinches up with Marei.

Khomenko manages to break the clinch.
Khomenko throws a one two combo.
Marei throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marei looks to score with a jab to the body but Khomenko is just out of range.
Khomenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khomenko manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Khomenko finds it's way through Marei's defenses.
Khomenko lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Khomenko misses with a wild combination.
Marei throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khomenko manages to avoid it.
Khomenko works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Khomenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Khomenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marei.
Marei misses with a few strikes there.
Marei throws a right and a left that both miss.
Khomenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Khomenko slips under a jab.
Khomenko throws a nice looking combination but Marei bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khomenko scores with a one two! Marei had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Tommaso Marei has been cut.
Marei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khomenko manages to avoid it.
Khomenko works Marei's body with a nice hook.
Khomenko is working the combinations to good effect here.
Marei fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Khomenko has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khomenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Khomenko pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Marei back to the cage. Khomenko follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Khomenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Khomenko is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Marei had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Khomenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marei misses with a double jab.
Khomenko is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Marei ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Marei throws a right hand that Khomenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Khomenko also avoids with ease.
Marei swings for the body but Khomenko moves out of range.
Khomenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marei.
Marei slips a jab and a cross from Khomenko.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marei. Khomenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Khomenko with a nice cross.
Marei tries to bum rush Khomenko with a series of wild strikes but Khomenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Khomenko thuds a left hand into Marei's body.
Marei throws a nice looking combination but Khomenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khomenko works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Marei fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khomenko lands a lovely overhand right.
Marei swings for the body but Khomenko moves out of range.
Marei avoids a punch combination nicely.

Khomenko clinches up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khomenko lands with a left to the head.
Marei tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Khomenko's elbow.
Khomenko lands a shoulder strike.
Khomenko lands a shoulder strike.
Khomenko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Marei or not.
Marei tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Khomenko smiles and moves away.
Marei throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Khomenko has closed the distance and engaged Marei in a clinch.
Khomenko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mareis head.
Khomenko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olexandr Khomenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommaso Marei's cut.
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.

Khomenko with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Khomenko lands a two punch combo.
Marei misses with a wild combination.
A right-left combo lands from Khomenko.

Khomenko throws a left that rocks Marei and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Khomenko dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Marei regain composure!

Marei is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marei tries to improve position but can't.
Oh Marei is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Khomenko wants to stand but Marei has his arm trapped.
Marei manages to get back to half guard.

Marei looking for submissions off his back.
Khomenko content to control rather than advance.
Marei seems to have got his legs back now.

Marei actively working from the bottom here.
Khomenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marei. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Khomenko wants to stand up but Marei has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marei is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khomenko pulls his head out easily.

Marei actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Marei actively working from the bottom here.

Marei looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Khomenko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marei knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Khomenko stalling.

Marei looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khomenko tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Marei is looking to improve his position.
Khomenko is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Marei is looking to improve his position.

Marei actively working from the bottom here.
Marei is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khomenko keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Marei looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Khomenko trying to pass the guard but Marei defending well.
Marei looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Khomenko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Marei is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khomenko pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Khomenko seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marei looking for submissions off his back.

Marei looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Khomenko seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Marei is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khomenko pulls his head out easily.

Marei actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khomenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Khomenko tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Marei.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olexandr Khomenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tommaso Marei's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Khomenko misses with a wild body shot.
Tommaso Marei is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marei throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Khomenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marei manages to avoid it.
Marei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khomenko moves away.
Marei digs a good hook to Khomenko's body.
Marei drops his hands momentarily and Khomenko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Marei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khomenko moves away.
A punch lands to the side of Marei 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Marei needs to keep his hands up - Khomenko had a free shot at his head there.
Marei looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marei avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khomenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marei.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marei misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Khomenko swinging wildly here.

Khomenko takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khomenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marei lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Khomenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Olexandr Khomenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marei throws a nice looking combination but Khomenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marei looks to score with a jab to the body but Khomenko is just out of range.
Marei on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Marei swings for the body but Khomenko moves out of range.
Khomenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Marei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khomenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Marei.
Khomenko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Marei slips under a jab.
Khomenko cracks Marei with a right hand to the side of the head.
Marei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khomenko moves away.
Marei swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Khomenko misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khomenko lands a jab to the nose.
Khomenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
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!
Marei misses with a jab to the body
and Khomenko counters with a right hand to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Khomenko manages to break the clinch.
Khomenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marei misses with a body shot.
Khomenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Marei misses the shot to the body.
Marei moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Khomenko lands with an overhand left.
No joy there for Khomenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marei throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Khomenko.
Khomenko throws a hook but Marei avoids it easily.
Marei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khomenko manages to avoid it.
Marei looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marei throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Khomenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marei.
A jab lands there for Khomenko.
Marei looks to score with a jab to the body but Khomenko is just out of range.
Khomenko closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Khomenko looks to land a combination. Marei sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Marei swings for the body but Khomenko moves out of range.
Marei showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Khomenko.
Marei misses the shot to the body.
Marei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marei looks to throw the jab but Khomenko is out of range.
Khomenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Marei moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Khomenko avoids the body shot from Marei.
Marei takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Marei jabs at Khomenko's body.
Khomenko cracks Marei with an open hand slap.
Tommaso Marei has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marei misses with a two punch combination.
Khomenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Marei on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Khomenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Khomenko avoids the body shot from Marei.
Khomenko dodges the punch combination from Marei.
Marei throws a body punch but Khomenko moves out of range.
Khomenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Marei throws a body punch but Khomenko moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Khomenko moves into range and clinches up with Marei.

Khomenko breaks the clinch.
Marei throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Khomenko.
Olexandr Khomenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tommaso Marei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marei misses with a wild body shot.

Khomenko has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Olexandr Khomenko.
I've got Khomenko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olexandr Khomenko!