PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleks Makarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Markito Antunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Makarov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, First of the year. Antunes has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Aleks Makarov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Makarov
vs
Antunes

190 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleks Makarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Markito Antunes!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Makarov!
Makarov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Makarov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Antunes throws a series of punches but Makarov moves out of range.

Makarov lands a head kick that stumbles Antunes and the fighters go to the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Makarov connects with a couple of short punches.

Antunes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Makarov wants to get up but he can't break Antunes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Makarov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Makarov connects with a couple of short punches.

Antunes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Makarov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Antunes looking for a guillotine here but Makarov defends easily.
Makarov wants to control from the top but Antunes keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Antunes has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Makarov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Antunes.
Antunes is trying to improve his position.
Antunes is not content to let Makarov control the position.
Antunes is looking for a sweep.
Makarov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Makarov scoring with punches and elbows.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Antunes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Makarov lands some shots froms side control.

Makarov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Antunes takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makarov tries to close the distance and clinch but Antunes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makarov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Antunes misses with a double jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Makarov!
Antunes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Makarov.
Makarov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Makarov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Makarov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Antunes's calf.
Makarov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Antunes back to the cage. Makarov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Makarov thumps Antunes with a low kick.
Makarov scores with a body shot.
Makarov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Antunes.
Antunes throws a head kick but Makarov moves out of range.
Makarov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Antunes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Makarov tries to clinch but Antunes moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makarov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Antunes eats them both and turns towards Makarov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Makarov, right into the meat.
Antunes tries a head kick but it misses.
Antunes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Makarov slips a jab and a cross from Antunes.
Antunes misses with a double jab.
Antunes tries to bum rush Makarov with a series of wild strikes but Makarov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Makarov lands a jab-cross combination.
Makarov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Antunes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Makarov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Makarov moves in looking to clinch but Antunes pushes him off.
Makarov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Antunes back to the cage. Makarov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Makarov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Antunes throws a leg kick but Makarov moved away.
Makarov lands a nice looking body kick.
Antunes takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Antunes throws a series of punches but Makarov avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makarov throws a combination. Antunes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Antunes throws a series of punches but Makarov moves out of range.
Makarov lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Makarov throws a right and a left that Antunes avoids nicely.
Antunes throws a right hand that Makarov ducks under and follows up with a left that Makarov also avoids with ease.
Antunes throws a head kick but Makarov moves out of range.
Makarov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Makarov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Antunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Makarov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Makarov scores with a three punch combo!
Antunes looks to land a combination but Makarov avoids it well.
Antunes looks to land a combination but Makarov avoids it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Makarov lands a nice looking body shot.
Makarov doesn't manage to clinch there - Antunes circles away.
Makarov lands a head kick. Antunes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Makarov blocks a head kick by Antunes.
A nice combination there by Makarov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleks Makarov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Makarov is looking to clinch.
Makarov throws a combination. Antunes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Antunes misses with a low kick.
Makarov is working the combinations to good effect here.
Makarov avoids the head kick by Antunes.
Makarov connects with a nice looking jab.
Makarov avoids the head kick by Antunes.
Antunes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Makarov moves out of range of the leg kick from Antunes.
Antunes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Makarov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Antunes does no damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Makarov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Antunes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Makarov lands a two punch combo.
Makarov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Makarov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Antunes.
Makarov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Antunes misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makarov is looking to slow Antunes down with leg kicks.
Antunes throws a series of punches but Makarov avoids them all with ease.
A solid body kick from Makarov.
Antunes throws a right hand that Makarov ducks under and follows up with a left that Makarov also avoids with ease.
Aleks Makarov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Antunes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Makarov.
Makarov tries to clinch but Antunes is having none of it.
Antunes misses with a two punch combination.
A bone on bone clash there as Makarov blocks the leg kick.
Makarov explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Antunes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Makarov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Antunes misses with a wild combination.
Makarov scores with a spinning back kick!
Antunes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Makarov throws a series of strikes that have Antunes backpedaling.
Aleks Makarov is winning the standup battle so far.
Makarov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Antunes backs up against the cage.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Antunes crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Makarov - the referee stops the clock and Antunes gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Makarov. Antunes manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Makarov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Antunes can do to turn this around?
Makarov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antunes misses with a two punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Antunes. Those never looked like landing.
Antunes swinging wildly here.
Makarov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Antunes throws a series of punches but Makarov avoids them all with ease.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left and a right from Makarov both land. Nice combination.
Makarov moves in looking to clinch but Antunes pushes him off.
Makarov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Makarov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Makarov scoring well with a low kick there.
Makarov looks to land a combination. Antunes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Makarov explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Makarov misses with a head kick.
Makarov fakes the leg kick and cracks Antunes in the body.
Makarov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Makarov thuds his shin into the meat of Antunes's side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Makarov throws a head kick that misses.
Antunes throws a nice looking combination but Makarov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Antunes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Makarov.
Antunes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Makarov. Makarov obviously looking to wear him down.
Makarov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Antunes.
Antunes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Makarov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch combination from Antunes misses.
Makarov digs a good hook to Antunes's body.
Makarov throws a series of strikes that have Antunes backpedaling.
Antunes throws a nice looking combination but Makarov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Makarov throws a combination. Antunes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Makarov scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Antunes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Makarov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Antunes misses with a double jab.
No joy there for Antunes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Makarov.
Makarov doesn't manage to clinch there - Antunes circles away.
Makarov is looking to wear down Antunes with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Makarov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Makarov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Antunes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Makarov circles away quickly and effectively.
Makarov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Makarov scores with a nice body kick.
Makarov misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Antunes tries to bum rush Makarov with a series of wild strikes but Makarov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Makarov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Antunes tries a head kick but it misses.
Makarov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleks Makarov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Makarov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Makarov wants to clinch.
Antunes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Antunes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Makarov wants to clinch.
Antunes swats away the attempt to clinch by Makarov.
Makarov thuds his shin into the meat of Antunes's side.
Makarov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Antunes eats them both and turns towards Makarov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Antunes throws a head kick that misses.
Makarov lands a jab-cross combination.
Antunes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Makarov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Makarov thuds a left hand into Antunes's body.
Makarov wants to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makarov tries to clinch but Antunes is having none of it.
Makarov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Makarov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Makarov.
Antunes misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Antunes.
Antunes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Makarov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Makarov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Antunes.
A clash of legs there as Makarov blocks the low kick.
Makarov feints and then cracks Antunes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Antunes down.
Makarov tries to clinch but Antunes is having none of it.
Antunes misses with the combination.
Antunes throws a sloppy head kick and Makarov moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antunes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Makarov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Antunes throws a nice looking combination but Makarov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Antunes misses with a wild combination.
Antunes has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Makarov.
Makarov lands a head kick. Antunes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Makarov lands a right hook to the body.
Makarov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Makarov avoids a punch combination nicely.
No joy there for Antunes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Makarov feints a jab promting Antunes to slip. Makarov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Antunes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Antunes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A head kick misses from Antunes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Antunes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Makarov works over Antunes's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Makarov tries to clinch but Antunes is having none of it.
Makarov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Makarov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Makarov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Makarov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Makarov moves in looking to clinch but Antunes pushes him off.
Antunes throws a right hand that Makarov ducks under and follows up with a left that Makarov also avoids with ease.
Antunes throws a head kick that misses.
Antunes looks to land a combination but Makarov avoids it well.
Makarov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Makarov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Antunes takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Makarov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Antunes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Antunes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Makarov cracks Antunes with an open hand slap.
Antunes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Makarov.
Makarov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Aleks Makarov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antunes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Makarov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Antunes on the side of the head.
Antunes misses with a series of wild punches.
Makarov connects with a high kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Antunes misses with a few strikes there.
Makarov slips a jab and a cross from Antunes.
Makarov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Antunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Makarov scores with a one two! Antunes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Makarov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Makarov lands a leg kick that knocks Antunes off balance momentarily.
Makarov avoids the head kick by Antunes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Makarov.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Antunes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Antunes misses with a two punch combination.
Makarov scores with a shot to the body.
Markito Antunes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A slapping leg kick lands for Makarov.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Makarov!

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleks Makarov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Makarov 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleks Makarov!
In his post fight interview, Aleks Makarov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.