PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Charles (ranked 22747 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dom Duck (ranked 5406 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Charles
vs
Duck

189 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

195 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikel Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dom Duck!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Duck clinches.

Duck turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Duck manages to end up in side control.

Charles sneaks out the side door and pushes Duck away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Duck uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Charles.

Duck 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Duck stands up and waves to Charles to follow him.
Charles checks a leg kick.
Charles was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Duck gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Charles pulls guard effortlessly.
Duck slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Charles has his foot on Duck's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Duck works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duck is looking to work some ground and pound but Charles has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Charles working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Duck doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Duck manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Duck missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Duck throws a big right hand that misses.
Charles can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Duck controls the pace.
Duck sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Charles's guard.

Duck stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Charles to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Duck clinches with his opponent.

Charles breaks the clinch.

Duck shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Duck sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Charles defending well though.
Charles is looking for a sweep. Duck is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Duck postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Charles to stand up.

Duck drives through and clinches with Charles against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duck breaks from the clinch.

Charles gets caught napping as Duck dives in and scores a takedown. Charles manages to retain guard.
Duck is pushing down on Charles's leg trying to pass to half guard. Charles is fighting to maintain full guard but Duck has managed to sneak the leg through.
Duck looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Duck thows a huge punch but Charles dodges it nicely.
Duck trying to mount his opponent but Charles defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Duck gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Duck shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Duck is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Charles is just riding it out for now. Duck eventually gives up the hold.
Charles avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Duck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Duck dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Duck displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Charles throws out the jab.

Duck shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Charles napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Charles explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Duck drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Duck decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Charles, up you get!
Duck pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Duck has managed to clinch.
Duck wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Charles is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Duck to keep the fight standing.
Duck wants to break free but Charles has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duck lands a left hand that snaps the head of Charles backwards.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Duck lands a body shot.
Charles tries to pull guard but Duck won't allow it.
Charles letting Duck take a breather here.
Duck stops a takedown attempt from Charles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Charles breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Duck has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Duck moves into the clinch.

Duck is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Charles can't fight it off and eventually Duck manages to take the fight to the floor. Charles looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Charles wants to control but Duck passes easily into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Duck decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mikel Charles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Duck gets the takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duck happy to just control the position for now.
Charles is looking to regain half guard here but Duck keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duck taking a breather here.
Duck throws an elbow but Charles slips to the side and avoids it well.

Duck is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Charles is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Charles's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Duck misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Duck decides to stand up, so the ref orders Charles to his feet.

Duck drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Duck is stalling in the full guard.

Duck stands up from Charles's guard - Duck perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Duck showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Duck rushes Charles and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Charles tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Duck decides to pull guard.
Duck 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.

Duck has his foot on Charles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Charles works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Duck looking for subs off his back but Charles has passed one foot through into half guard.
Charles missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles prevents Duck from improving his position.
Duck keeps trying to improve his position.
Duck regains full guard. Nicely done.
Charles scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dom Duck has got the better of the ground game so far.
Charles throwing strikes from guard but Duck blocks nicely.

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.
Duck preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Charles trying to control the position from guard on top but Duck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duck tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Duck doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Duck is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Charles's half guard.

Charles manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duck bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Duck tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Duck takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Charles throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Charles misses with a strike from the bottom.
Charles tries to control but Duck manages to take his back.
Charles trying to control the hands but Duck breaks the grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duck controls the position.
Duck misses with a punch to the head.
Charles is trying to stand back up.
Duck has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Charles's body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dom Duck comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Duck 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom Duck!
An out of breath Dom Duck thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.