PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Makarov (ranked 1197 p4p, 1211 weight class) and Mfer Phol (ranked 141 p4p, 143 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Makarov
vs
Phol

200 cm
23
250
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
27
235
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Core Combat

Aspire Clothing
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Makarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mfer Phol!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phol tries to clinch but Makarov moves out of range.
Phol tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Makarov scores with a sloppy right hand. Phol should have avoided that one.

Makarov dives in and scores a takedown into Phol's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makarov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

It looks like Mfer Phol has been cut.
Phol trying to strike off his back.
Makarov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Makarov is working Phol over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Phol will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Makarov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Phol trying to strike off his back.
Phol striking off his back but it's not causing Makarov any problems.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Phol tries to strike from the bottom.
Makarov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Phol throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Phol tries to strike from the bottom.
Makarov cracks Phol with a solid left hand.
Phol doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Makarov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Phol has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Phol throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've been hearing good reports from Makarov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phol doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Makarov scoring with some ground and pound.
Phol looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phol throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Phol trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Phol throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Phol thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Phol throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Makarov trying to control the position from guard on top but Phol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phol trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Phol throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Makarov is in close to Phol's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Makarov tries to free his leg and advance position but Phol is retaining full guard.
Makarov passes Phol's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Makarov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Phol flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Makarov lands strikes from half guard.
Phol tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makarov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Phol misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Makarov wants to free his trapped foot but Phol is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Phol is looking for a sweep. Makarov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Phol on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Phol on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Makarov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Phol throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Phol is trying to get back to full guard.
Makarov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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!
Phol moves into full guard.
Makarov slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Phol.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Makarov lands a nice short elbow.
Phol punching from the bottom.
Makarov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Makarov is trying to control the action in half guard but Phol is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Makarov drops an elbow to the side of Phol's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makarov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Makarov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Makarov lands with a punch from half guard.
Makarov blocks the strikes from Phol.
Makarov working over Phol with some ground and pound. Phol looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Makarov blocks the strikes from Phol.
Makarov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Phol throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Makarov lands a nice short elbow.
Phol missing with punches from the bottom.
Phol punching from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Makarov.
Makarov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Phol does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Phol wants to get back to full guard.
Phol throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Makarov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Makarov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phol throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Makarov trying to control from half guard but Phol is working away.
Phol won't allow Makarov to pass to mount.
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. Makarov connects with a nice short shot to Phol's temple.
Makarov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Phol tries to roll over but Makarov keeps him under control.
Phol taking some punishment here, with Makarov in his half guard.
Makarov uses his free foot to push down on Phol's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Phol.
Phol throwing hammer fists to the chest of Makarov. What's that going to do exactly?
Phol throwing hammer fists to the chest of Makarov. What's that going to do exactly?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Makarov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Phol tries to reverse the position but Makarov maintains control.
Makarov scoring with strikes but Phol is staying in there.
Makarov raining down shots from the mount!

Phol is rocked!

That has opened up Mfer Phol's cut even more.
BOOM! Makarov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Makarov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mfer Phol's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Phol fails with an attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Phol blocking some punches.

Makarov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Makarov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

The cut above Mfer Phol's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Phol closes the distance but Makarov moves to the side

and Makarov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Makarov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phol can do to turn this around?

Makarov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Phol sees it coming and defends easily.
Phol tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Phol flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Phol throws a strike from the bottom but Makarov passes into side control!
Makarov lands some shots froms side control.
Makarov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Makarov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Phol is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Phol tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Makarov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Makarov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phol regains half guard.
Phol gets back to full guard.
Phol tries to strike from the bottom.
Phol throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Phol throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Makarov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Mfer Phol's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Mfer Phol's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Sergey Makarov!
Our winner, Sergey Makarov, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.