PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eliott Leighton (ranked 2494 p4p, 352 weight class) and Alexey Markov (ranked 2615 p4p, 370 weight class). Leighton comes to the cage accompanied by Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Leighton
vs
Markov

191 cm
22
211 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

188 cm
22
223 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Organic Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eliott Leighton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Markov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Markov does it's job there.
Markov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Leighton on the side of the head.
Leighton slips a jab from Markov.
A jab from Markov misses.
Markov misses with a hook.
Leighton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Markov scores with a nice strike.
Markov blocks a jab.
Jab from Leighton.
Markov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Leighton.
Leighton tries to clinch but Markov moves out of range.
Markov misses with a looping left.
Markov looks to land a left hand but Leighton moved out of range nicely.
Markov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Leighton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nice defenses there by Leighton.
Markov throws a shot from downtown. Leighton moves away and avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leighton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Markov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Markov scores with a jab to the head.
Leighton catches Markov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Markov tried to score with a low kick but Leighton checks it.
Markov tries to land a leg kick but Leighton saw it coming and moves away.
Alexey Markov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Markov.
Markov ducks right into an uppercut from Leighton.
Markov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've been hearing reports that Leighton has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Markov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Leighton's hands.
Markov throws a looping overhand right but Leighton ducks down to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Markov.
Markov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Markov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Leighton's head backwards.
Leighton checks a leg kick.
Leighton fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Markov on the side of the head.

It looks like Alexey Markov has been cut.
Markov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leighton.
Markov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leighton moves away.
Leighton throws a head kick but Markov moves out of range.
Markov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Markov misses with a lunging right hand
and Leighton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Markov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Markov drops his hands momentarily and Leighton takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Leighton thumps Markov with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Markov.
Markov doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A jab from Leighton misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leighton throws a hook but Markov avoids it easily.
Markov misses with a looping left.
A jab from Markov finds it's way through Leighton's defenses.
Markov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Leighton.
Markov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Leighton slips under a jab.
Markov throws a big shot that misses.
A jab from Markov misses.
Leighton takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Markov misses with a hook. Leighton ducked under it nicely.
Markov throws the left hand but Leighton avoids the punch easily.
Markov misses with a straight right.
Leighton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Markov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Leighton misses the target.
Markov looks to score with a jab to the body but Leighton is just out of range.
Markov misses with an uppercut. Leighton saw that one coming.
Markov scores with the left hand. Leighton knows he should have avoided that one.
Leighton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Markov thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leighton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Leighton moves into the clinch.
Leighton stalling the fight.

Leighton works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Leighton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Markov has momentary wrist control but Leighton slips an elbow through the middle.
Markov keeping moving, preventing Leighton from controlling successfully.
Leighton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leighton advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markov is trying to control but can't.
Markov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Leighton tries to pass to full mount but Markov defends it.
Leighton thows a huge punch but Markov dodges it nicely.
Leighton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Leighton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leighton wants to pass the guard but Markov is defending well.
Leighton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Markov taking some punishment here, with Leighton in his half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leighton 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Markov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Leighton postures up in Markov's guard and throws a big left but Markov blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eliott Leighton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexey Markov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Leighton instigates a clinch.
Leighton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Markov fails to land.
Markov takes a shot to the head.
Markov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Leighton is defending well for now.
Leighton scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Markov.

Leighton works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Leighton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Leighton scoring with some ground and pound.
Markov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leighton.
Markov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leighton.
Leighton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Markov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leighton looking to pass the guard.
Leighton wants to control from the top but Markov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Eliott Leighton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leighton wants to control from the top but Markov keeps moving.
Leighton slips nicely into half guard.
Leighton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Markov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Markov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Leighton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leighton throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Markov to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leighton throws a big elbow that misses.
Markov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leighton throwing strikes but missing.
Markov controls Leighton momentarily but Leighton frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markov keeping moving, preventing Leighton from controlling successfully.
Leighton throws a big right hand that misses.
Leighton is pushing down on Markov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Markov is fighting to maintain full guard but Leighton has managed to sneak the leg through.
Markov wants to control but Leighton is keeping busy.
Leighton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Leighton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Leighton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Markov defending well though.
Markov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Leighton moves into full mount! Markov won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leighton throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Poor strikes thrown by Leighton there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Leighton throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Markov because Leighton loaded up on that one.
Leighton with good strikes from the mount here!
Leighton landing strikes from the mount and Markov is in trouble!
Leighton looking to ground and pound but Markov is blocking nicely.
Markov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Leighton.
Leighton throwing strikes here but Markov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Leighton thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Markov avoids a series of strikes thrown by Leighton.
Leighton thowing shots but they're missing.
Leighton throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leighton scoring with strikes but Markov is staying in there.

Markov is rocked!

That has opened up Alexey Markov's cut even more.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leighton unloads with some shots from mount but Markov bucks and avoids them well.
Markov is still in real trouble! Can Leighton finish him?
Leighton throws some wild stikes that Markov manages to avoid easily.
Markov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Markov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Leighton throwing strikes here but Markov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Markov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Leighton.
Leighton throwing strikes here but Markov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Markov is breathing heavily.
Leighton unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Markov wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Leighton celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eliott Leighton!
Eliott Leighton really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Pit Bull Development logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.